Braids are everywhere! From the red carpet to the sidewalk, celebs and non-celebs alike have taken this hairstyle and turned it into a major trend. Whether you are looking for a sleek french braid or a piecey messy long braid,we have just the thing for you to snag this killer summer ‘do. Keep reading below to find out more!

French, feather, and fishtails — OH MY! Braids have come back in a huge way. One look at the red carpet is all you need to see that this hot trend is sticking around for a while. Though a great braid may seem like it can only be achieved by a professional, with the right tools, anyone can nab this killer look at home! Lucky for you, we have just the thing for your own celebrity-inspired braid. Read below for tips and products!

Celebrity Braids & Hairstyles — Products For Every Type Of Braid

Braids are here to stay. With the summer weather, it truly is the perfect style for those crazy hot days! A braid is a great way to get your hair off of your neck so you can cool down. It’s also perfect for second day hair (aka lazy girls).

Though braids can sometimes seem like they are difficult to do, especially the killer braids that are all over the red carpet, with the right products anything is possible!

If you want a sleek low braid like Kim Kardashian, we suggest Pravana’s Model Behavior Styling Cream. This product has a lightweight formula that eliminates frizz to give you that smooth and shiny finish! Unlike a lot of other products that provide hold, this styling cream will not make your hair hard. Spread some of this on your hair before braiding for the perfect sleek style.

For a messier look like Nina Dobrev, we love L’Oréal Paris Perfect Texture and Bumble and bumble City Sweep Finish. Both of these products provide hair with the texture necessary for a braid to hold by defining all of the existing texture in your hair. If you want to have the messy look but don’t want to skip a day of washing your hair, these products are perfect for you!

A great way to finish your braid off is a dry conditioner. Our Favorite is Oscar Blandi’s Dry Conditioner Spray! This spray adds a little extra shine to your look, which is always a plus. It is also a detangler so it when its time to let your hair down, you will have a much easier time getting out the knots!

How To Create Beyonce’s Crown Braid — Expert Tips

How to do a Crown Braid like Beyonce from DreamDrySenior Stylist Bricel Cury:

“The Crown Braid is a chic, Bohemian braid (also known as the trending Bianca style on the DreamDry style menu!) seen frequently on celebs like Sienna Miller, Scarlett Johannson and Dianna Agron. It’s perfect for summer because it gets all your hair off your neck, and holds all day (and night!).

Depending on the desired finish, this style can be recreated on either freshly clean hair for a polished finish or unwashed hair for a effortless, undone appearance. For the sake of these instructions we will begin with clean, dry, detangled hair; ensuring that the hairline is smooth.

Tilt your head forward to evenly distribute all of the hair around the head. We are going to create a Dutch Braid or inside out French Braid that forms a halo around the head.

Beginning behind either ear, separate a small section splitting it into three strands and begin a horizontal braid, incorporating new hair neatly and evenly into the new stitch as you go around the head. I like to use Oribe Smooth Style Serum on my fingertips for a better grip, hold and shine while I braid.

Continue to add hair to your three sections as you travel all the way around your head. Once the braid has wrapped completely around, create a 3 strand braid with the length of the hair, and braid all the way to the end of your hair, securing the ends with a small elastic band.

To finish off your look pin the tail of your braid seamlessly on the top of the braid you formed. Using Oribe Superfine hair spray, tuck away any fly aways and your ready to go!

A great way to make your braid appear more effortless is by loosening it up a bit, by carefully pinching the braid on both sides. This allows for the braid to open up, creating a more undone look.”

How To Get Blake Lively’s Fishtail Braid — Expert Tips

“This look starts with a polished beachy texture. Keep it loose. I like diffusing a dime size amount of Oribe’s Creme for Style in the ends of damp hair. Dry it in ropes- twist large loose sections and direct the air from roots to ends. After it’s dry, finish with a few sprays of Oribe’s Apre Beach in the ends. If you have finer strands use Oribe’s Thick Dry Texturizing Spray. Twist large sections. Shake them and scrunch them.

Now for the fishtail part: Pull all of your hair onto one side and separate your hair into two sections; we’ll call them right and left. (Take this opportunity before starting the braid to pull out any hair you want to remain around your face like the picture.) The fishtail is created by pulling a small section from the back of the right section, taking it around the front of the left section and returning it through the center to the right section. Do the same with left section- take a small section from behind the left side, around the front of the right side and back through the center to the left.

Continue until you have braided about an inch and start to pull it apart a bit. As you continue to the ends feel free to have fun! Try pulling it apart a little or a lot or a bit of each! My taste is the more random the better. Bind off with a small elastic. Done!”

Keep Hair Healthy For The Best Braids

The first step to having a great braid is having great hair.

Remember to take care of the hair on your head by drinking tons of water to keep hydrated, and eating tons of fruits and veggies so your hair will have all of the nutrients it needs. Remember to skip the straightener every once in a while to give your hair a much needed rest. For more tips for healthy hair, check out our article on repairing your hair.

So HollywoodLifers, will you be rocking a killer braid during summer 2014? Tell us below!